2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition;
FALSE PROPHETS & TEACHINGS
Here is a warning given to God's people. Don't allow yourselves to be deceived by people who say that Christ's coming is almost here or that He has already arrived. Jesus warns us of that in Matthew 24:23; Mark 13:21-23; Luke 21:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:2.
Many false Christs have appeared throughout history, drawing people to them with their charismatic ways, convincing them that they are Truthsayers, when in reality, they were merely liars, because they followed the father of lies: Satan who disguises himself as an angel of light, mimicking The Truth but not actually being The Truth. Of some of these past false Messiahs, these are but a few, though some are of the distant past, and some of recent past days, some are still around and many more are yet to claim the title of Messiah and Savior (to their detriment and destruction):
Bahá'u'lláh (1817–1892) Founder of the Baháʼí Faith, who claimed to fulfill prophecies of Jesus’ Second Coming and other religious figures
Arnold Potter (1804–1872) LDS leader who claimed the spirit of Christ entered Him and called himself "Potter Christ"
Sabbatai Zevi (1626–1676) Jewish mystic who called himself the Jewish Messiah
Ariffin Mohamed (1941-2016) Founder of the banned Sky Kingdom in Malaysia, claiming to be the incarnation of Jesus, Muhammad, Shiva, and Buddha
Jose Luis de Jesús Miranda (1946–2013) : Founder of Growing in Grace, who claimed to be both Jesus Christ returned and the Antichrist
Alvaro Thais (1948- ) claims to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ
Sun Myung Moon (1920–2012) Founder of the Unification Church and claimed to be Messiah
Krishna Venta (1911–1958) [claimed to be Christ]
Alan John Miller (1963- ) & Mary Suzanne Luck (1979- ) [he claims to be Christ and that his female partner is Mary Magdalene] Founder of Divine Truth
Jim Jones (1931-1978) [claimed to be Messiah]
Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) declared himself to be a German Christian, a church which aligned itself with nazi indoctrination, antisemitism, and racism. He promoted 'nondenominational positive Christianity', which did not follow the (Apostles') creed nor having the confessional (of the Catholic church).
Charles Manson (1934-2017) his followers referred to him as 'light-bringer'
Though millions have died in their sins in following the above mentioned 'prophets', untold numbers will fall, will leave the church and its beliefs, in the days preceding the second prophecy of the man of sin.
We know that The Day of The Lord which is prophesied to come will not happen until two things happen beforehand. Jude 1:14, 15; Joel 2:31, 32.
THE FALLING AWAY
First, there will be a falling away. Who is falling away? What are they falling away from? The Word tells us that judgment begins in the house of God, the family of God [1 Peter 4:17]. So, these who are falling away are people who profess Christ but do not live Christ. Their foundation is faulty, and they will fall when persecutions come against them [Matthew 7:26].
They who are falling away have drifted away from The Word of God. They listened to vain philosophies and teachings, following after forbidden idols and images, exchanging their nebulous love for rocky lusts, praying to empty gods: images of stone and wood and gold and sand: whatever men and women put their hands to make for themselves.
They who are falling away cannot find their way back to The Lord God until they repent of their wicked ways and fully surrender their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ, The Firm Foundation upon which a Christian builds their faith.
While many have behaved in such wickedness throughout the centuries, it was a few here, some there. This prophetic falling away is massive; it is on a global scale that people are falling away from The Truth of The Word of God. They have more than itching ears: they are deliberately stepping, walking, away from God. In fact, many are running from The Word of God because they do not want to stop what they are doing. They like living in sin. They are comfortable in their sins, allowing that dark slop to wash over their minds and fill their hearts.
THE MAN OF SIN REVEALED
The second thing that must happen before The Day of The Lord arrives is that Satan will seat himself on the throne in the temple of The Lord in Israel. How will those who remain in the church after the rapture know him? Listen to how he is described.
Out of this falling away rises the man of sin: the man who not only actively lives sin, but promotes it, as well. He is the son of perdition, knowing he is condemned to destruction, his goal is to destroy as many souls as he can. He is the usurper of God's authority, taking God's throne for himself, he proclaims himself to be God. He is Antichrist, against everything that Christ Is:
Christ is Redeemer/Antichrist is Destroyer
Christ is Savior/Antichrist is Murderer
Christ is Friend/Antichrist is Enemy
Christ is Son of God/Antichrist is the son of destruction
Christ is Resurrection/Antichrist is death. the grave and hellbound
Christ is Hope/Antichrist is despair, hopelessness
Christ is The Rock Upon Which Our Faith is Built/Antichrist is faithlessness
Christ is The Chief Cornerstone/Antichrist is sand
Christ is Love/Antichrist is hate
Christ is Light/Antichrist is false light
Christ is The Way/Antichrist is the wrong way
Christ is The Truth/ Antichrist is liar
Christ is The Life/Antichrist is death
Christ is Bread/Antichrist is wormwood
Christ is Water/Antichrist is poisoned tongue
Christ is Conqueror/Antichrist is defeated
This Antichrist, the lawless one, who disregards God's Laws and desires God's throne and kingdom for his own, will set up his own laws in direct contradiction to God's laws. And people will listen to him, obey him and follow him directly, instead of how they used to follow him, inadvertently and unknowingly.
He will do wonders and miracles that will deceive many into believing that he is the promised Messiah. He will give life where life was not, nor should be. And, having turned their hearts and minds against God and His Word, they will believe to their condemnation and destruction.
These two things MUST HAPPEN FIRST before The Day of The Lord takes place. The Day of The Lord is a day of judgment and recompense [Obadiah 1:15]. It is in the valley of decision [Joel 3:14]. It is a day of clouds [Ezekiel 30:3; Joel 2:2]. It is a day that is near [Zephaniah 1:14]. It is a day of destruction [Joel 1L15]. As The Day draws near, The Lord has consecrated His guests, the ones He invited [Zephaniah 1:7]. The Day of The Lord is coming [Joel 2:1].
GET READY
So I say to you who are not ready to meet The Lord, you better get ready. For times are short for the saints' sake. This is your day of salvation. Believe on The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation from eternal damnation. Study The Word of God and learn to live in Christ as Christ lives in you when you believe. Speak The Name of Jesus. Believe The Name of Jesus for your deliverance from wickedness and unholy living.
Romans 10:9-10, 13
That if you shall confess with your mouth The Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved.
COME TO JESUS - Chris Rice
NO FEAR - Jon Reddick & We The Kingdom
